Shadow Of Her Past

CHAPTER 3: RED WINE AND REGRETS

Chapter 3 – Red Wine and Regret

Ava wrapped her coat tighter around herself as she stepped into Talia’s loft. The scent of jasmine and expensive red wine lingered in the air, warm and familiar. For a second, it felt like home.

Talia turned from the kitchen island, her curls piled high and a silk robe hugging her curves like second skin.

“You look like hell,” she said, pouring a glass. “Want to talk about it or drink until you forget?”

Ava managed a smirk. “Both.”

They settled into the velvet couch, legs tucked beneath them like girls again, but Ava’s hands wouldn’t stop twitching. She’d seen too much. Heard too much.

“I saw Julian,” Ava began.

Talia arched a brow. “You went to him? Or he came crawling?”

“Does it matter?”

“Yes. Because one means you still love him. The other means you’re about to get burned again.”

Ava drained half her glass. “I found a flash drive in his office. Hidden. It had video. Audio. Of him and Rachel… talking about me.”

Talia’s expression froze for a moment too long.

“You don’t believe me,” Ava said quietly.

“I believe you,” Talia replied. “I just… thought you were done chasing ghosts. Done trying to find meaning in madness.”

“I’m not chasing.” Ava looked her dead in the eye. “I’m hunting.”

Talia said nothing. Just sipped her wine like it held answers.

Then her phone buzzed.

She glanced at it — too quickly — and turned it face-down.

Ava noticed.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“No one.”

“Rachel?”

Talia’s smile was strained. “You think I’d still be talking to that snake?”

Ava leaned back. “I think… I don’t know who to trust anymore.”

Talia stood up, grabbing the bottle. “Then stop trusting. Just survive.”

As she walked to the kitchen, Ava’s eyes flicked to the phone.

The screen lit up.

Incoming Call: Julian Hale

Ava’s breath caught.

The wine in her mouth suddenly tasted like poison.

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🔥 End of Chapter 3

Twists so far:

Ava’s best friend Talia might be playing both sides.

Julian and Rachel weren’t the only ones keeping secrets.

The betrayal Ava thought she understood? It’s deeper than she imagined.

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